Houston Astros right fielder George Springer (4) and Jose Altuve (27) celebrate the Astros seventh win in a row after the annual MLB Civil Rights game at Minute Maid Park, Friday, May 30, 2014, in Houston. ( ... more

Photo: Karen Warren, Staff

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The Astros' Jonathan Villar, who doubled in the go-ahead run earlier in the seventh inning, is out at third on an attempted steal Friday.

The Astros' Jonathan Villar, who doubled in the go-ahead run earlier in the seventh inning, is out at third on an attempted steal Friday.

Photo: Karen Warren, Staff

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The Eagles - alias Astros - are flying high after recording their seventh straight win Friday. Jose Altuve (27) does his best to soar with Dexter Fowler.

The Eagles - alias Astros - are flying high after recording their seventh straight win Friday. Jose Altuve (27) does his best to soar with Dexter Fowler.

Photo: Karen Warren, Staff

Astros clip Orioles for seventh straight win

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The Astros made a pair of mistakes in the same inning they scored twice to take the lead Friday night, as sure a sign yet their fortunes have changed.

Even the best teams need a little luck, an occasional reprieve, and this is a franchise that has been starving for some breaks - even deserving of a few.

Top-shelf pitching from Brett Oberholtzer, closer Chad Qualls and the bottom of the lineup deserved nearly all the credit in a 2-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles at Minute Maid Park for the Astros' seventh consecutive win.

"I haven't heard this place this loud in a long time," said Robbie Grossman, who had the game-tying hit in the seventh inning, right before Jonathan Villar's go-ahead double.

The team hasn't had a win streak this long since July 27-Aug. 3, 2010, which shouldn't come as a shock. Since May 11, the Astros are tied for the second-most wins across the majors, and their 15 wins this month are their most in May since recording 17 in 2008.

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"It feels great," catcher Jason Castro. "The good thing is that it feels like it can just keep rolling, because even when we're not swinging the bats - we kind of started slow tonight - the pitching has been outstanding."

Bo Porter has never been skipper for a longer win streak.

"Earlier in the year, these were the type of games that we would find a way to come up short," he said.

Villar has been a direct beneficiary of all the good mojo flying around.

The shortstop had not recorded a hit in nearly two weeks when he drove in the go-ahead run in the Astros' two-run seventh inning, depositing a two-out, ground-rule double into the home bullpen on one hop at Minute Maid Park against Orioles starter Miguel Gonzalez. That broke a 1-1 tie as well as Villar's 0-for-26 drought.

In worse times, Villar might have faced more heat, but his struggles went quietly as Jose Altuve and George Springer did yeoman's work to put a new gloss on a previously uninspired season.

The preceding batter, Grossman, tied the game at 1 with a two-out double to left field, just over the head of Steve Pearce. That scored Matt Dominguez from third base.

"I wasn't really sure if he caught it or not until it ricocheted off the wall," Grossman said.

Oberholtzer shines

The Astros didn't even have a hit off Gonzalez until the sixth inning.

"Extremely happy for (Villar) and Grossman," Porter said. "For them to be the two offensive heroes tonight, it definitely feels good. … To be able to come through for the team tonight, especially with two outs, after a poor base-running decision to pick the team up, that's what teamwork is all about."

The Astros nearly took themselves out of the inning.

A Dominguez double started the inning and Alex Presley's single to right field pushed Dominguez to third base with one out. But Presley tried to advance to second on the throw home from right fielder Nick Markakis and was thrown out by the catcher. That put Grossman in a tough spot, because Presley eliminated the potential for a sacrifice fly.

Grossman and Villar came through, but after the double, Villar was picked off trying to steal third base - a bizarre move in itself, because he's fast enough to score from second base.

Oberholtzer may be the odd-man out if the Astros return to a regular five-man rotation and eliminate an extra starter, as is their stated plan. But he has unquestionably pitched well enough to stick around since rejoining the team.

Oberholtzer went seven innings on just 81 pitches, walking no one and allowing just four hits as Baltimore hitters could do nothing other than hit his changeup into the ground.

"More confidence," Oberholtzer said of his rejuvenated results. "We got off to a rocky start, especially myself. From being back, confidence I would say is the key. … Yeah, it is in the back of my mind (that I'm pitching for my stay in the rotation). But you know, that's the name of the game. It's a business. There's only 25 spots, you just got to keep competing and keep striving to be better."

"The starting rotation' ha been great and the team has been playing good ball. Whatever happens, happens."

Porter didn't tip his hand, but said: "If you can pitch, and you're putting up zeroes, we will find some place for you to pitch."

Pitching on back-to-back nights and for the third time in four days, Qualls recorded his first four-out save of the season.

"It's awesome," said Qualls, who was last a closer half a decade ago. "I feel like I finally have found my groove again and I have fun. I'm having fun out there and I'm throwing the ball the way that I'm used to."

Altuve a spoiler

The Orioles went ahead 1-0 in the second inning on a scorched grounder by J.J. Hardy that snuck under Dominguez's glove at third base. Adam Jones, who led off the inning with a double, scored easily. No error was issued, although Dominguez would likely knock down that ball most of the time.

Gonzalez lost his no-no to - who else - Altuve. Altuve didn't exactly stroke one, hitting a slow grounder and narrowly beating out shortstop J.J. Hardy's throw from the hole.

That set up the Astros' favorite situation: Altuve on base for Springer, but the rookie was rung up on a full-count slider that appeared a bit low. His home-run binge (seven in his previous seven games) came to an end, or at least took a day off. He was 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts, ending his hit streak at 11 games.